BSc Psychology with Neuroscience

If not included in your offer, we will take into consideration your additional A/AS levels and any key skill units when we receive your results in August.

The aim of the course is to give you a thorough grounding in theories, methods and research in Psychology and Neuroscience in order to provide a comprehensive degree covering the main approaches to the study of brain and behaviour. The degree is accredited as conferring eligibility for Graduate Membership of the British Psychological Society and giving the Graduate Basis for Registration which is the first step towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist. Students will get the Graduate Basis for Registration of the BPS provided they obtain an honours degree (third class honours or above).

In your first year you will spend 7/12 of your time in Psychology and 5/12 in Neuroscience. In your second year two-thirds of your modules will be in Psychology and one-third in Neuroscience. In your final year you spend at least one-third of your time in Neuroscience and the rest of your time in Psychology. The precise allocation between the two disciplines in your third year depends on your choice of options.

An integral part of the course is the teaching of research methodology in both psychology and neuroscience, and students will acquire competence in laboratory techniques and in the use of statistical methods to analyse data from experiments in the laboratory and in the field.

First Year
Approaches to Psychology, applied psychology, cognitive psychology, abnormal psychology, developmental psychology, social psychology, biological bases of behaviour, statistics and laboratory work, seminars on research skills, and discussion groups. Introductory modules for neuroscience: molecular biochemistry, macromolecules in action, introduction to physiology and environmental & evolutionary biology.

Second Year
Modules in psychology cover the following topics: social behaviour and development; biological psychology; cognitive psychology; abnormal psychology and individual differences; statistics and laboratory work. modules in neuroscience cover animal physiology, and pharmacology: principles of drugs upon action.

Third Year
Both core and option modules are taken. The two core modules are social behaviour and development, and brain and cognition.

The two options are chosen from the following modules:  psychology of sport, behavioural pharmacology, psychology of love and attraction, cognitive and clinical neuropsychology, individual differences, human factors, visual cognition, game theory & experimental games and various aspects of applied psychology (e.g. clinical, legal, educational).  In Neuroscience, modules may include: brain and behaviour; membrane physiology and the cellular basis of drug action. All students taking psychology for three years have an opportunity to participate in the School’s research programmes during their final year by undertaking a research project.

Skills Gained
In both disciplines, students will develop skills in oral and written communication, information retrieval and the evaluation of research.

Students will develop generic skills in IT as well as specialist data analysis skills. Practical laboratory and project work will develop research skills in both psychology and neuroscience, enabling students to design and undertake experiments and other empirical investigations, and acquire a range of laboratory techniques.

Graduate Opportunities
Graduates from this degree will have acquired skills relevant to careers in areas such as Industry (particularly Pharmaceutical), University research, teaching, health care, personnel and management training. Following accreditation, the degree will qualify you to undertake further training in areas such as clinical, educational, forensic, occupational and counselling psychology. It will also provide the basis for advanced training in neuroscience and neuropharmacology.

Postgraduate opportunities are available at Leicester in both disciplines. In addition to the forensic and clinical psychology course run within the School of Psychology there is an active postgraduate research programme in Neuroscience particularly in cell signalling.

Psychology Brochure

A new Psychology Brochure is now available. Please use our Request Form to order or download a copy.